Bone spike or peg



Nov. 7, 1933. J. F. SLOAN BONE -S'PIKEDOR' PEG Filed Feb. 20, 1932Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in bone spikes or pegs in which oneor more spikes or pegs, made of suitable material, is passed through afractured or broken bone for the purpose of immobilizing or makingextension. For example, one of the methods of using my inventionis topass a spike or peg thru the bone or bones near both ends of thefractured bone or bones on opposite sides of the fracture, incorporatingtheir protruding ends in a cast or splint thus holding the bone or bonesin proper position and preventing their displacement thru muscularaction or other forces.

When spikes or pegs are used the protruding ends of the spike or pegwill become contaminated with bacteria. The removal of the spike or pegwithout destroying the infecting bacteria on the protruding ends wouldcause the infection to be carried into the tissues and bones throughwhich the spike or peg was drawn. The destruction of the bacteria uponthese protruding ends of the spike or peg without injury to thesurrounding tissue may be very difficult or impossible to accomplish. Itis well known that infection of the bone is very serious and destructiveand is one of the slowest of recovery. Consequently any operation upon abone must. be done with the greatest care and cleanliness to preventinfection. The introduction into and removal of any foreign body from abone must be done under perfect asepsis.

It is my purpose to provide a spike or peg so constructed that it willseparate in a location within the member or limb in which it is used sothat one part can be removed from one side and the other part from theother side. In this way both parts of the spike or peg can be drawn fromwithin the bone and tissues toward the surface and thus prevent anybacteria, which might be on the protruding ends of the spike, beingdrawn into the tract which it had occupied.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates preferredembodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in section illustrating theinvention in operative position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in sectionillustrating a modification of the spike or peg illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in plan and partly insection of a further modification and Figure 4 is an elevation of thedevice shown attached to a yoke for the purpose of making traction on afractured bone and limb in proper position.

Like numerals of referenceindicate the same parts throughout the severalfigures, in which:

1 indicates the spike or peg, which as shown in '60 the drawing isseparable about its center into two portions 2 and 3. The portion 3 issharpened or pointed at one end 4 and at the other end has a shoulder 5and a reduced portion 6. The portion 2 may have a head 7 at one end anda recess 8 at the other end to receive the reduced portion 6 of theportion 3 so that when the same is assembled as shown in the drawing thepeg or spike will present a smooth and uninterrupted surface.

In the interest of simplifying the illustration only one spike or peg isshown in operative position in each of Figures 1 and 4, though it istobe understood that a duplicate spike or peg may be employed above thefractures indicated in said figures as. conditions may require. In orderto hold the fractured bones against displacement a cast 19 may beemployed as hereinbefore mentioned.

Referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the reduced'portion 6 isformed on the portion 2 of the spike and is threaded as shown at 8. Theportion 3 has a recess 9 which is also threaded to receive the threadedreduced portion 6.

In Figure 3 portion 2 has a reduced swaged or rectangular portion 10which fits into a like shaped recess of portion 3.

Figure 4 shows the bones of a limb in dotted lines through which thespike or peg l is passed and attached to a yoke 12. In order to secure ID the yoke to the spike, the yoke may be provided with apertures 13 and14 through which the ends of the spike pass. It will be noted that inthis modification the spike or peg may be provided with a head and asharpened end or both ends may be blunt. Set screws 15 and 16 areprovided to firmly secure the yoke to the ends of the spike. The yoke 12has a ring 17 fastened around it with which a cord or other suitablemeans 18 may be tied to extend the limb in proper position.

While I have shown but two embodiments of my invention, it is obviousthat many modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the artandI desire therefore, that my invention be limited only by the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A surgical bone spike or peg separable about its center into twoportions, the said portions ineluding means for effecting a separableinterengagement with each other.

2. A headed and pointed surgical bone spike or peg separable about itscenter into two portions, the said portions including means foreffecting a separable interengagement with each other.

3. A surgical bone spike or peg separable at a point intermediate itsends, the said portions including means for effecting a separableinterpoint intermediate its ends, one of the portions engagement witheach other, the point of separation of the peg or spike being locatedwithin the bone of the fractured member.

4. A headed and pointed surgical bone spike or peg separable at a pointintermediate its ends, one of said portions being provided with arecess, the other portion being provided with a reduced portion to entersaid recess to efiect a connection between the two portions, the pointof separation of the peg or spike being located within the bone of thefractured member.

5. A surgical bone spike or peg separable at a point intermediate itsends, one of said portions being provided with a recess, the otherportion being provided with a reduced portion to enter said recess toeifect a connection between the two portions, the point of separation ofthe peg or spike being located within the bone of the fracture member. I

6. A surgical bone spike or peg separable at a point intermediate itsends, one of the portions being provided with a threaded recess, theother portion being provided with a threaded reduced portion forthreaded engagement with the recess of the first mentioned portion, thepoint of separation of the peg or spike being located Within the bone ofthe fractured member.

7. A surgical bone spike or peg separable at a being provided with arecess, the other portion being provided with a reduced portionrectangular in cross section to enter the recess of the first mentionedportion, the point of separation of the peg or spike being locatedwithin the bone of the fractured member.

8. A headed and pointed surgical bone spike or peg separable at a pointintermediate its ends, one of the portions being provided with a recess,the other portion being provided with a reduced portion rectangular incross section to enter the recess of the first mentioned-portion, thepoint of separation of the peg or spike being located within the bone ofthe fractured member.

JOHN F. SLOAN.

